The RED SCARE! [APUSH Review Unit 8 Topic 3] Period 8: 1945-1980

Summary

This video explores the U.S. efforts to combat communism at home after World War II, focusing on the second Red Scare. It highlights key events such as the Taft-Hartley Act, the Federal Employee Loyalty Program, and the House Un-American Activities Committee, which sought to root out communist influence, especially in labor unions and Hollywood. The video also discusses the rise of Senator Joseph McCarthy and the Rosenberg case, which exemplified the widespread paranoia. Ultimately, the Red Scare led to suppression of freedoms and increased Cold War tensions.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Second Red Scare occurred after World War II, when Americans feared communist influence both abroad and within the U.S.
• 😀 The term 'Red' refers to Soviet communism, and the U.S. took efforts to contain it worldwide as well as suppress it domestically.
• 😀 The Taft-Hartley Act of 1947 made it harder for labor unions to strike and required union leaders to pledge they were not communists.
• 😀 President Truman's Federal Employee Loyalty and Security Program investigated federal workers' political affiliations, requiring them to swear loyalty to the U.S. and declare they were not communists.
• 😀 The House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) targeted suspected communist influence in Hollywood, leading to the blacklisting of the Hollywood 10, who were accused of communist ties.
• 😀 Senator Joseph McCarthy rose to prominence in 1950 by claiming to have the names of 205 communists within the State Department, although he never provided proof.
• 😀 McCarthy's unfounded accusations sparked widespread fear of communism, leading to the term 'McCarthyism' to describe reckless anti-communist accusations.
• 😀 The Senate eventually censured McCarthy after he failed to prove his claims about communist infiltration in the U.S. government.
• 😀 The Rosenberg case involved Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, who were accused of espionage for the Soviet Union and executed in 1953. Subsequent research confirmed Julius's guilt but raised questions about the fairness of the trial and execution.
• 😀 The effects of the Red Scare included suppression of labor unions, Hollywood blacklisting, and heightened Cold War tensions between the U.S. and the Soviet Union.

Q & A

What was the main objective of the U.S. government in the post-WWII era concerning communism?

The main objective of the U.S. government was to contain and eliminate communism both abroad and within the United States. Domestically, this meant identifying and rooting out suspected communists from government positions, labor unions, and cultural institutions.

How did the Taft-Hartley Act of 1947 contribute to the Red Scare?

The Taft-Hartley Act of 1947 made it harder for labor unions to organize and protest. It also required union leaders to swear that they were not members of the Communist Party, contributing to the perception that labor movements were being infiltrated by communists.

What was the Federal Employee Loyalty Program, and how did it impact government employees?

The Federal Employee Loyalty Program, implemented in 1947, required federal employees to swear that they were not communists or fascists. It also authorized investigations into the political affiliations of government workers, leading to suspicion and the dismissal of those accused of communist sympathies.

What role did the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) play during the Second Red Scare?

HUAC was instrumental in investigating and identifying communist influences in various aspects of American society, especially focusing on the entertainment industry. It famously targeted Hollywood, leading to the blacklisting of directors and actors suspected of communist sympathies.

Why were the Hollywood 10 blacklisted, and what was the outcome of their actions?

The Hollywood 10 were a group of directors who refused to testify before Congress about their political beliefs, citing the First Amendment. As a result, they were blacklisted, meaning they were barred from working in the film industry, and many faced short prison sentences for contempt of Congress.

Who was Joseph McCarthy, and what role did he play in the Second Red Scare?

Joseph McCarthy was a U.S. Senator who rose to prominence in 1950 after claiming to have a list of 205 communists working in the State Department. His unsubstantiated accusations and reckless allegations led to widespread fear, and the phenomenon became known as McCarthyism. He later faced discrediting after failing to prove his claims.

What was the significance of McCarthy’s claims about communists in the U.S. State Department?

McCarthy's claim that 205 communists had infiltrated the U.S. State Department fueled public hysteria and heightened the sense of danger posed by communism. Though McCarthy later revised the number to 57, the damage to his credibility and the national psyche had already been done.

What was the outcome of the Senate hearings involving Joseph McCarthy?

During Senate hearings, McCarthy was unable to substantiate his accusations, leading to his censure by the Senate. This marked the end of his influence and the rapid decline of his political career.

Who were Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, and what was their role in the Red Scare?

Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were a married couple accused of espionage for allegedly passing atomic secrets to the Soviet Union. They were convicted and executed in 1953. While later research confirmed Julius was a Soviet spy, the severity of their punishment remains a point of controversy.

What were the broader social and cultural impacts of the Red Scare in the United States?

The Red Scare led to widespread paranoia and a culture of fear in the U.S. Anti-communist laws suppressed labor unions, destroyed careers in Hollywood, and limited free expression. The Cold War tensions with the Soviet Union were also heightened, affecting U.S. politics, culture, and public life.